This grizzly bear amused onlookers when he satisfied a hard-to-reach itch on a 'soft shoulder' road sign.

Surprised wildlife park visitors watched as the animal stretched himself to his full height and leaned against the pole in a bid to scratch something that was irritating him.

Photographer Chris Perry said the bear appeared to be enjoying himself so much he almost snapped the fragile signpost in two.

The 47-year-old snapped the incredible shots while visiting the Denali National Park in Alaska, America.

That's why a bear can rest at ease: The full height grizzly scratched his back for at least ten minutes before wandering off, said photgrapher Chris Perry

He said: 'Sometimes getting the right shot takes a lot of planning, good equipment and a lot of patience. However, sometimes it just takes a nothing more than a little luck.

'As luck would have it I managed to get a road pass for the Denali National Park, which allowed me and a few others to drive anywhere I wanted in the park.

'I was allowed to pick and choose my spots and stakeout while the rest of the park was closed to the general public.

Bear neccessities: The grizzly bear at last finds something tall enough to scratch that itch he's been meaning to sort out

'I was at my car when I saw this bear make his way to a soft shoulder sign and attacked it with his back.

'His
eyes rolled back while letting out the loudest sounds of bear ecstasy
and I snapped away as he practically dislodged the post from its
foundation.

'I couldn't help but laugh as I took the shots on my camera.
He was at it for well over ten minutes and when he had his fill, he
fell down to all fours with a thud and made his way away from me and
the car.

'I sat there on the hood of my car and watched him slowly stroll back to feast on a load of blueberries growing nearby.

'Witnessing something like this made me realise I am just about as lucky as anyone I have ever known. When people see the photos they say how cute the bear is and how lucky I was, which I completely agree with.

'But I have also had many wildlife pro photographers saying they have never seen shots like this.That, to me, is the biggest compliment I can receive.'